World Cup notes: Switzerland stuns Ecuador in final seconds

Switzerland grabbed a winner with virtually the final kick to earn a 2-1 victory over Ecuador in Brasilia, Brazil and extended a run of come-from-behind wins that are becoming a theme of the World Cup.

There were seconds left in the third and final minute of stoppage time when substitute Haris Seferovic finished off a length-of-the-field move by redirecting a pass deep in the penalty area. After wild Swiss celebrations, Ecuador’s shell-shocked players barely had time to restart before the final whistle was blown.

It was the fifth time in the first nine matches in Brazil a team had come from a goal down to win.

“It was a dream to be able to win this match in the very last minute like this,” Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said through a translator. “It was emotional. It will be important for the morale of the team.”

Switzerland conceded a sloppy goal when Enner Valencia rose unmarked in the 22nd minute and headed in a free kick from six yards.

Ecuador’s defending for the 48th-minute equalizer was just as abject, however, with Admir Mehmedi finding space from even closer in to nod in a corner.

With Mehmedi and Seferovic both second-half substitutes, it was no wonder Hitzfeld — a veteran coach with two Champions League titles on his resume — had a huge grin on his face at the final whistle.

Not so his counterpart.

“We were naive and that cost us the game,” Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rieda said. “(The loss) is more our fault. We were not beaten by our opponent.”

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was present — and was booed by sections of the crowd — for what was probably the poorest game at this World Cup in terms of quality. Thousands of fans missed the first part of the match because of long queues to pass through security.

France 3, Honduras 0 >> Karim Benzema scored twice and created a third that was confirmed by goal-line technology as France cruised.

The convincing victory — albeit against a 10-man team for more than 45 minutes — was in stark contrast to the team’s performances in South Africa four years ago, when the highly paid squad failed to win a single match and was sent home in a disgrace after going on a training strike.

It now tops group E and, with Switzerland and Ecuador left to play, stands a good chance of staying there.

Benzema’s first goal came from the penalty spot just before halftime after Wilson Palacios was sent off with his second yellow card for charging into the back of Paul Pogba. The Real Madrid striker calmly scored past Noel Valladares to give the French a deserved lead going into the break.

With Honduras down to 10 men, France didn’t take long to double the score, thanks again to the Real Madrid striker and the first decisive use of goal line technology in a World Cup.

Yohan Cabaye, whose pass had earlier picked out Pogba to give the French their penalty, struck a long ball Benzema shot across the goal. The ball came back off the post across the goal before Valladares fumbled it over his own line. With the new technology system confirming the ball crossed the line, referee Sandro Ricci gave the own goal despite Honduran protests.

Benzema got his second on the 72nd minute with a powerful strike from inside the penalty area after a long-range shot by right back Mathieu Debuchy was blocked.

“Obviously Karim did well because he scored and he was decisive for us,” Deschamps said. “But I was also pleased with our team spirit and our collective way of playing. They defended with a lot of aggression; it was pretty difficult to find an opening even though we hit the crossbar twice. The sending off changed things. We had a lot of space and could take advantage of it.”

Ronaldo set to go >> Striker Cristiano Ronaldo declared himself ready to play in Portugal’s Group G opener against Germany today.

Ronaldo said he had recovered from a left-knee injury that has bothered him of late.

“I would be the first to tell the coach if I were unable to play, I would never put my career at risk even for a World Cup,” Ronaldo said. “I’d love to be 110 percent and but I am 100 percent and that is enough to help my team,” the Real Madrid striker said.

The Portugal forward and FIFA player of the year was seen earlier this week walking away from training with ice bags on his knee. He wore a bandage on the knee during Sunday’s practice at the match venue, the Arena Fonte Nova.

Ronaldo played in his team’s Champions League final on May 24 despite earlier doubts about his fitness and scored a penalty to complete Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over city rival Atletico.

Eto’o misses training >> Cameroon captain and striker Samuel Eto’o has missed training for a second consecutive day and is an injury doubt for the must-win group game against Croatia.

Eto’o again was absent for the workout Sunday at Cameroon’s base in Vitoria and coach Volker Finke said the Chelsea forward was struggling with the same right knee injury he nursed throughout the buildup to the Cup.

Cameroon lost 1-0 to Mexico in its opening Group A match and will face Croatia, which lost its first game to Brazil, on Wednesday.

This World Cup is likely to be the last for the 33-year-old Eto’o, Cameroon’s leading all-time scorer. He is playing at his fourth World Cup.

Pele museum >> The city where Pele rose to fame honored its favorite son by celebrating the life and career of the Brazilian football great while his country hosted the World Cup.

Hundreds of dignitaries were on hand in the port city of Santos to toast the 73-year-old Pele at the official opening of the Pele Museum — a 4,000 square meter complex inside the city’s old town that cost about $22 million and houses more than 2,500 items related to his career, including trophies, jerseys and images of him with world leaders and celebrities.

Pele rose to stardom at Santos FC, where he played between 1956 and 1974. During that period he also led Brazil to three World Cup titles.